JR Central Japan Railway will create new silent “S Work” cars in all Nozomi 700 Shinkansen trains that travel between Tokyo and Osaka from Oct., according to the Nagoya-based train company. Car 7 on each train is being designated for teleworkers with reservations only available to individual riders to help them focus on working, the company stated in a recent news release.
Tickets for the S Work seats will only be available through the company’s Smart Ex and ExPress Yoyaku reservation systems when the “S Work Car” is selected. Seats in Car 7 are not available to groups or passengers who want to buy child priced tickets, according the news release.
Free Wi-Fi internet connections will also be available in cars 7 and 8, and every seat in the N700S series Shinkansen will have an electrical outlet the company, said in a news release dated Aug. 26.
The changes are part of a company effort to address changes in business work styles from offices to telework and Zoom meetings. JR Central also announced it will redesign areas of some stations along the route so that waiting rooms will have semi-enclosed booths for silent working, and completely enclosed booths for teleconferencing and Zoom meetings.
The S-Car and station changes are to in effect from Oct. 1 this year to March, 2022, according to the company.